UAE to host green economy conference with UNEP

In its efforts to incorporate sustainable development through a sustainable and diversified economy within the United Arab Emirates Vision 2021 framework, the Ministry of Environment & Water will host The 1st Global Conference partnership for Action on Green Economy conference on 4-5 March in Dubai.

To be held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai (pictured right), the conference is a joint initiative by the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water and UN agencies like United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The conference will be an opportunity to review the progress on implementing the Green Economy in the context of sustainable development following Rio+20, and also a chance to consider how greener economies can contribute to the emerging development agenda and new global architecture for sustainability. Moreover, the conference will explore the context of the social benefits of transitioning to inclusive, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient green economies.

"With sustainability becoming a keyword where governments' eyes are set on creating a 'greener' world, a comprehensive suite of green economy services that will enable countries to transform their national economic structures to meet the growing demands and challenges of the 21st century are being put in place," said Aisha Al Abdooli, Assistant Undersecretary of Environment Affairs at UAE Ministry of Environment and Water.

"In this context the hosting of the first Global Conference on Partnership for Action on Green Economy by the UAE Government reflects the tremendous efforts put in by the nation's rulers in ensuring that the UAE vigorously supports international initiatives to protect the environment in full consciousness of its worldwide responsibility in the face of humanity's shared ecological challenges."

PAGE is a response to the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), entitled The Future We Want, which recognizes the green economy as a vehicle for sustainable development and poverty eradication. PAGE will support 30 countries over the next seven years in building national green economy strategies that will generate new jobs and skills, promote clean technologies, and reduce environmental risks and poverty.

"The ministry's vision of Assuring Environmental Sustainability for Life resonates the efforts that PAGE will inspire through the bringing together of ideas from around the world," said Al Abdooli. "Our mission is to strive towards integrated management for environment ecosystem and natural resources to realize a Green Economy for the present and future generations."

The roadmap for UAE Green Growth Strategy focused on seven sectors, oil and gas, water and electricity, transport, construction, agriculture, industry and waste management to be transformed into sustainable models. This was done through strong engagement with the stakeholders in those sectors within UAE. PAGE hopes to adopt some of these measures based on the Rio Declaration.

Twenty years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, where countries adopted Agenda 21 - a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection - the UN is again bringing together governments, international institutions and major groups to agree on a range of smart measures that can reduce poverty while promoting decent jobs, clean energy and a more sustainable and fair use of resources.

"Green economy is an economy or economic development model based on sustainable development and knowledge of ecological economics. Anticipating the problems of tomorrow is the only reasonable way to preserve and enhance our way of life, acting with initiative in full awareness of our collective responsibility. The UAE will benefit from a sustainable and diversified economy by being flexible in adopting new economic models and capitalising on global economic partnerships to guarantee long-term prosperity for current and future generation of Emiratis," concluded Al Abdooli.